News / Bristol Zoo Project
Giant edible replica of Alfred the Gorilla unveiled
A life size chocolate replica of one of Bristol’s most famous historical celebrities is going on display at Bristol Zoo Project later this month.
Made by local chocolatiers Zara’s Chocolates, based in Bedminster, the handmade edible replica commemorates Alfred the Gorilla, who was a resident at Bristol Zoo Gardens from 1930 until his death in 1948.
A life sized stuffed version of Alfred is also on display at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
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Alfred is being sculpted alongside four other objects which hope to tell the story of Bristol as part of an ongoing artwork by artist Luke Jerram entitled Edible Histories.
Metro mayor Dan Norris checks out what will be a 1m tall sculpture of Alfred – photo: WECA
Other historical items include the Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the last of the famous supersonic jets to be built and fly from Aerospace Bristol, and the largest chocolate button in history at Glenside Hospital Museum.
All of the objects will be wrapped in gold foil and displayed with the original pieces at five Bristol attractions that have signed up to the project.
One more chocolate object is yet to be announced, and will be revealed later this year.
Metro mayor Dan Norris said Alfred represented Bristol’s history of work with conservation and natural history.
His sentiment was echoed by Justin Morris, CEO of Bristol Zoological Society, who said the edible object showcased the zoo’s conservation work.
“Chocolate Alfred showcases our work in Equatorial Guinea, where we protect western lowland gorillas in the wild. He also points to the future.
“At Bristol Zoo Project, we will create a Central African Forest habitat which will home, among other animals, our existing troop of western lowland gorillas.
“Construction on the new zoo starts next year, where around 80 percent of animals, like the gorillas, will be linked to our conservation work around the world.”
Alfred will be on display at Bristol Zoo Project throughout October, before joining the other four objects at a special event in Bristol city centre, after which they will be broken up and distributed to the general public and local food banks.
Main photo: WECA
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